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Inspection Services



RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS


The Division of Public Health issues permits to almost 4,000 food establishments. Food establishments are operations that store, prepare, package, serve, vend or otherwise provide food for human consumption. This can include take-out counters in grocery stores. These operations are inspected on a regular basis to monitor for compliance with the State of Delaware Food Code, a national model endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Food Code applies scientific requirements from the U.S. Public Health Services to assist facilities in developing active managerial control. This approach identifies the risk factors and key interventions most likely to impact the operation’s ability to deliver safe food to the consumer, and then reduces the risk of food borne illness through timely corrective action. Food establishments using active managerial control provide a safer product to consumers by establishing methods to control risks associated with:

  • Unsafe food sources - such as food not processed by a regulated, inspected plant
  • Inadequate cooking - such as food not cooked to the required temperature
  • Improper holding - such as food not kept hot or cold enough before being served
  • Contaminated equipment - such as not sanitizing food contact surfaces
  • Poor personal hygiene - such as food workers not properly washing their hands

To obtain information about a food establishment through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please follow this link to the Request for information form .


Food Establishment Inspection Reports

To find out more about food establishment inspection reports, please follow this link to the Food Establishment Inspection Reports page. See the link at the bottom of the page to visit the searchable database that is updated on a weekly basis.


Resources for Food Establishments


More Information



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Plan Review Packets


Food Establishment Plan Review
and Permit Application

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Food Establishment Plan Review
Plumbing Requirements

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Plan Review and Approval
For Mobile Food Units

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Caterer Without Premises - Plan Review Packet
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Forms and Applications


Food Establishment Change of
Ownership Permit Application

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Application for Exemption to Offer
For Sale Baked Goods

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Application to Operate
a Limited Frozen Dessert Stand

__________

Applicant/Food Employee
Medical Referral

__________

Applicant/Food
Employee Interview and
Reporting Agreement

English
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Spanish
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Vietnamese
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Turkish
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Russian
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Korean
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Cantonese (Trad.)
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Cantonese (Simp.)

Temporary Food Establishments


Temporary Food Establishment
Permit Application

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Minimum Requirements for
Operating a Temporary
Food Establishment

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Food Safety for Temporary
Food Establishments Brochure


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